heaven for ever and ever.”^190 Ambrose reiterates that the marriage takes place
between Jesus Christ and the soul, “[t]he Lord Christ marries himself to the souls of
his Saints.”^191 At times Ambrose recognizes that this marriage involves both the
individual believer and the Church.
Significantly for Ambrose, spiritual marriage was not a secondary issue but
rather the foundation from which all spiritual life originated. The initial page of
Media declares, “[t]he first Privilege which immediately follows our Union with
Christ is Justification.”^192 Likewise in Looking Unto Jesus, Ambrose asserts the
primacy and all inclusive priority of this relationship, “[t]he Lord Christ marries
himself to the souls of his Saints... and for this cause the soul must forsake all, and
cleave unto Christ, as married wives use to do, we must leave all for our husband the
Lord Jesus.”^193 Ambrose advances this same priority from God’s perspective, “Gods
purposes are without any alteration, the love of Christ after thousands of yeares is still
as the love of a Bridegroom upon the wedding day.”^194 Clearly according to
Ambrose, God’s central purpose is to be in a marital relationship with God’s people.
The quote that introduced this chapter is a robust description of Ambrose’s
understanding. Since God has taken the initiative toward humanity, humanity must
respond appropriately, “[o] my soul, henceforth cling to thy Saviour, go out of thy
self, and creep to him, and affect not onely union, but very unity with him; bathe thy
(^190) Ambrose, Ult (^) ima in Prima, Media, & Ultima (^) (1654), 117, cf. 196 for a variation of
this referring to Bernard in relation to the penitent thief on the cross. 191
192 Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus, 11.^
193 Ambrose, Media (1657), 1.^
194 Ambrose, Ambrose, Looking Unto JesusLooking Unto Jesus, 11., 98.^